1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386
387
388
389
390
391
392
393
394
395
396
397
398
399
400
401
402
403
404
405
406
407
408
409
410
411
412
413
414
415
416
417
418
419
420
421
422
423
424
425
426
427
428
429
430
431
432
433
434
435
436
437
438
439
440
441
442
443
444
445
446
447
448
449
450
451
452
453
454
455
456
457
458
459
460
461
462
463
464
465
466
467
468
469
470
471
472
473
474
475
476
477
478
479
480
481
482
483
484
485
486
487
488
489
490
491
492
493
494
495
496
497
498
499
500
501
502
503
504
505
506
507
508
509
510
511
512
513
514
515
516
517
518
519
520
521
522
523
524
525
526
527
528
529
530
531
532
533
534
535
536
537
538
539
540
541
542
543
544
545
546
547
548
549
550
551
552
553
554
555
556
557
558
559
560
561
562
563
564
565
566
567
568
569
570
571
572
573
574
575
576
577
578
579
580
581
582
583
584
585
586
587
588
589
590
591
592
593
594
595
596
597
598
599
600
601
602
603
604
605
606
607
608
609
610
611
612
613
614
615
616
617
618
619
620
621
622
623
624
625
626
627
628
629
630
631
632
633
634
635
636
637
638
639
640
641
642
643
644
645
646
647
648
649
650
651
652
653
654
655
656
657
658
659
660
661
662
663
664
665
666
667
668
669
670
671
672
673
674
675
676
677
678
679
680
681
682
683
684
685
686
687
688
689
690
691
692
693
694
695
696
697
698
699
700
701
702
703
704
705
706
707
708
709
710
711
712
713
714
715
716
717
718
719
720
721
722
723
724
725
726
727
728
729
730
731
732
733
734
735
736
737
738
739
740
741
742
743
744
745
746
747
748
749
750
751
752
753
754
755
756
757
758
759
760
761
762
763
764
765
766
767
768
769
770
771
772
773
774
775
776
777
778
779
780
781
782
783
784
785
786
787
788
789
790
791
792
793
794
795
796
797
798
799
800
801
802
803
804
805
806
807
808
809
810
811
812
813
814
815
816
817
818
819
820
821
822
823
824
825
826
827
828
829
830
831
832
833
834
835
836
837
838
839
840
841
842
843
844
845
846
847
848
849
850
851
852
853
854
855
856
857
858
859
860
861
862
863
864
865
866
867
868
869
870
871
872
873
874
875
876
877
878
879
880
881
882
883
884
885
886
887
888
889
890
891
892
893
894
895
896
897
898
899
900
901
902
903
904
905
906
907
908
909
910
911
912
913
914
915
916
917
918
919
920
921
922
923
924
925
926
927
928
929
930
931
932
933
934
935
936
937
938
939
940
941
942
943
944
945
946
947
948
949
950
951
952
953
954
955
956
957
958
959
960
961
962
963
964
965
966
967
968
969
970
971
972
973
974
975
976
977
978
979
980
981
982
983
984
985
986
987
988
989
990
991
992
993
994
995
996
997
998
999
1000
1001
1002
1003
1004
1005
1006
1007
1008
1009
1010
1011
1012
1013
1014
1015
1016
1017
1018
1019
1020
1021
1022
1023
1024
1025
1026
1027
1028
1029
1030
1031
1032
1033
1034
1035
1036
1037
1038
1039
1040
1041
1042
1043
1044
1045
1046
1047
1048
1049
1050
1051
1052
1053
1054
1055
1056
1057
1058
1059
1060
1061
1062
1063
1064
1065
1066
1067
1068
1069
1070
1071
1072
1073
1074
1075
1076
1077
1078
1079
1080
1081
1082
1083
1084
1085
1086
1087
1088
1089
1090
1091
1092
1093
1094
1095
1096
1097
1098
1099
1100
1101
1102
1103
1104
1105
1106
1107
1108
1109
1110
1111
1112
1113
1114
1115
1116
1117
1118
1119
1120
1121
1122
1123
1124
1125
1126
1127
1128
1129
1130
1131
1132
1133
1134
1135
1136
1137
1138
1139
1140
1141
1142
1143
1144
1145
1146
1147
1148
1149
1150
1151
1152
1153
1154
1155
1156
1157
1158
1159
1160
1161
1162
1163
1164
1165
1166
1167
1168
1169
1170
1171
1172
1173
1174
1175
1176
1177
1178
1179
1180
1181
1182
1183
1184
1185
1186
1187
1188
1189
1190
1191
1192
1193
1194
1195
1196
1197
1198
1199
1200
1201
1202
1203
1204
1205
1206
1207
1208
1209
1210
1211
1212
1213
1214
1215
1216
1217
1218
1219
1220
1221
1222
1223
1224
1225
1226
1227
1228
1229
1230
1231
1232
1233
1234
1235
1236
1237
1238
1239
1240
1241
1242
1243
1244
1245
1246
1247
1248
1249
1250
1251
1252
1253
1254
1255
1256
1257
1258
1259
1260
1261
1262
1263
1264
1265
1266
1267
1268
1269
1270
1271
1272
1273
1274
1275
1276
1277
1278
1279
1280
1281
1282
1283
1284
1285
1286
1287
1288
1289
1290
1291
1292
1293
1294
1295
1296
1297
1298
1299
1300
1301
1302
1303
1304
1305
1306
1307
1308
1309
1310
1311
1312
1313
1314
1315
1316
1317
1318
1319
1320
1321
1322
1323
1324
1325
1326
1327
1328
1329
1330
1331
1332
1333
1334
1335
1336
1337
1338
1339
1340
1341
1342
1343
1344
1345
1346
1347
1348
1349
1350
1351
1352
1353
1354
1355
1356
1357
1358
1359
1360
1361
1362
1363
1364
1365
1366
1367
1368
1369
1370
1371
1372
1373
1374
1375
1376
1377
1378
1379
1380
1381
1382
1383
1384
1385
1386
1387
1388
1389
1390
1391
1392
1393
1394
1395
1396
1397
1398
1399
1400
1401
1402
1403
1404
1405
1406
1407
1408
1409
1410
1411
1412
1413
1414
1415
1416
1417
1418
1419
1420
1421
1422
1423
1424
1425
1426
1427
1428
1429
1430
1431
1432
1433
1434
1435
1436
1437
1438
1439
1440
1441
1442
1443
1444
1445
1446
1447
1448
1449
1450
1451
1452
1453
1454
1455
1456
1457
1458
1459
1460
1461
1462
1463
1464
1465
1466
1467
1468
1469
1470
1471
1472
1473
1474
1475
1476
1477
1478
1479
1480
1481
1482
1483
1484
1485
1486
1487
1488
1489
1490
1491
1492
1493
1494
1495
1496
1497
1498
1499
1500
1501
1502
1503
1504
1505
1506
1507
1508
1509
1510
1511
1512
1513
1514
1515
1516
1517
1518
1519
1520
1521
1522
1523
1524
1525
1526
1527
1528
1529
1530
1531
1532
1533
1534
1535
1536
1537
1538
1539
1540
1541
1542
1543
1544
1545
1546
1547
1548
1549
1550
1551
1552
1553
1554
1555
1556
1557
1558
1559
1560
1561
1562
1563
1564
1565
1566
1567
1568
1569
1570
1571
1572
1573
1574
1575
1576
1577
1578
1579
1580
1581
1582
1583
1584
1585
1586
1587
1588
1589
1590
1591
1592
1593
1594
1595
1596
1597
1598
1599
1600
1601
1602
1603
1604
1605
1606
1607
1608
1609
1610
1611
1612
1613
1614
1615
1616
1617
1618
1619
1620
1621
1622
1623
1624
1625
1626
1627
1628
1629
1630
1631
1632
1633
1634
1635
1636
1637
1638
1639
1640
1641
1642
1643
1644
1645
1646
1647
1648
1649
1650
1651
1652
1653
1654
1655
1656
1657
1658
1659
1660
1661
1662
1663
1664
1665
1666
1667
1668
1669
1670
1671
1672
1673
1674
1675
1676
1677
1678
1679
1680
1681
1682
1683
1684
1685
1686
1687
1688
1689
1690
1691
1692
1693
1694
1695
1696
1697
1698
1699
1700
1701
1702
1703
1704
1705
1706
1707
1708
1709
1710
1711
1712
1713
1714
1715
1716
1717
1718
1719
1720
1721
1722
1723
1724
1725
1726
1727
1728
1729
1730
1731
1732
1733
1734
1735
1736
1737
1738
1739
1740
1741
1742
1743
1744
1745
1746
1747
1748
1749
1750
1751
1752
1753
1754
1755
1756
1757
1758
1759
1760
1761
1762
1763
1764
1765
1766
1767
1768
1769
1770
1771
1772
1773
1774
1775
1776
1777
1778
1779
1780
1781
1782
1783
1784
1785
1786
1787
1788
1789
1790
1791
1792
1793
1794
1795
1796
1797
1798
1799
1800
1801
1802
1803
1804
1805
1806
1807
1808
1809
1810
1811
1812
1813
1814
1815
1816
1817
1818
1819
1820
1821
1822
1823
1824
1825
1826
1827
1828
1829
1830
1831
1832
1833
1834
1835
1836
1837
1838
1839
1840
1841
1842
1843
1844
1845
1846
1847
1848
1849
1850
1851
1852
1853
1854
1855
1856
1857
1858
1859
1860
1861
1862
1863
1864
1865
1866
1867
1868
1869
1870
1871
1872
1873
1874
1875
1876
1877
1878
1879
1880
1881
1882
1883
1884
1885
1886
1887
1888
1889
1890
1891
1892
1893
1894
1895
1896
1897
1898
1899
1900
1901
1902
1903
1904
1905
1906
1907
1908
1909
1910
1911
1912
1913
1914
1915
1916
1917
1918
1919
1920
1921
1922
1923
1924
1925
1926
1927
1928
1929
1930
1931
1932
1933
1934
1935
1936
1937
1938
1939
1940
1941
1942
1943
1944
1945
1946
1947
1948
1949
1950
1951
1952
1953
1954
1955
1956
1957
1958
1959
1960
1961
1962
1963
1964
1965
1966
1967
1968
1969
1970
1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
2031
2032
2033
2034
2035
2036
2037
2038
2039
2040
2041
2042
2043
2044
2045
2046
2047
2048
2049
2050
2051
2052
2053
2054
2055
2056
2057
2058
2059
2060
2061
2062
2063
2064
2065
2066
2067
2068
2069
2070
2071
2072
2073
2074
2075
2076
2077
2078
2079
2080
2081
2082
2083
2084
2085
2086
2087
2088
2089
2090
2091
2092
2093
2094
2095
2096
2097
2098
2099
2100
2101
2102
2103
2104
2105
2106
2107
2108
2109
2110
2111
2112
2113
2114
2115
2116
2117
2118
2119
2120
2121
2122
2123
2124
2125
2126
2127
2128
2129
2130
2131
2132
2133
2134
2135
2136
2137
2138
2139
2140
2141
2142
2143
2144
2145
2146
2147
2148
2149
2150
2151
2152
2153
2154
2155
2156
2157
2158
2159
2160
2161
2162
2163
2164
2165
2166
2167
2168
2169
2170
2171
2172
2173
2174
2175
2176
2177
2178
2179
2180
2181
2182
2183
2184
2185
2186
2187
2188
2189
2190
2191
2192
2193
2194
2195
2196
2197
2198
2199
2200
2201
2202
2203
2204
2205
2206
2207
2208
2209
2210
2211
2212
2213
2214
2215
2216
2217
2218
2219
2220
2221
2222
2223
2224
2225
2226
2227
2228
2229
2230
2231
2232
2233
2234
2235
2236
2237
2238
2239
2240
2241
2242
2243
2244
2245
2246
2247
2248
2249
2250
2251
2252
2253
2254
2255
2256
2257
2258
2259
2260
2261
2262
2263
2264
2265
2266
2267
2268
2269
2270
2271
2272
2273
2274
2275
2276
2277
2278
2279
2280
2281
2282
2283
2284
2285
2286
2287
2288
2289
2290
2291
2292
2293
2294
2295
2296
2297
2298
2299
2300
2301
2302
2303
2304
2305
2306
2307
2308
2309
2310
2311
2312
2313
2314
2315
2316
2317
2318
2319
2320
2321
2322
2323
2324
2325
2326
2327
2328
2329
2330
2331
2332
2333
2334
2335
2336
2337
2338
2339
2340
2341
2342
2343
2344
2345
2346
2347
2348
2349
2350
2351
2352
2353
2354
2355
2356
2357
2358
2359
2360
2361
2362
2363
2364
2365
2366
2367
2368
2369
2370
2371
2372
2373
2374
2375
2376
2377
2378
2379
2380
2381
2382
2383
2384
2385
2386
2387
2388
2389
2390
2391
2392
2393
2394
2395
2396
2397
2398
2399
2400
2401
2402
2403
2404
2405
2406
2407
2408
2409
2410
2411
2412
2413
2414
2415
2416
2417
2418
2419
2420
2421
2422
2423
2424
2425
2426
2427
2428
2429
2430
2431
2432
2433
2434
2435
2436
2437
2438
2439
2440
2441
2442
2443
2444
2445
2446
2447
2448
2449
2450
2451
2452
2453
2454
2455
2456
2457
2458
2459
2460
2461
2462
2463
2464
2465
2466
2467
2468
2469
2470
2471
2472
2473
2474
2475
2476
2477
2478
2479
2480
2481
2482
2483
2484
2485
2486
2487
2488
2489
2490
2491
2492
2493
2494
2495
2496
2497
2498
2499
2500
2501
2502
2503
2504
2505
2506
2507
2508
2509
2510
2511
2512
2513
2514
2515
2516
2517
2518
2519
2520
2521
2522
2523
2524
2525
2526
2527
2528
2529
2530
2531
2532
2533
2534
2535
2536
2537
2538
2539
2540
2541
2542
2543
2544
2545
2546
2547
2548
2549
2550
2551
2552
2553
2554
2555
2556
2557
2558
2559
2560
2561
2562
2563
2564
2565
2566
2567
2568
2569
2570
2571
2572
2573
2574
2575
2576
2577
2578
2579
2580
2581
2582
2583
2584
2585
2586
2587
2588
2589
2590
2591
2592
2593
2594
2595
2596
2597
2598
2599
2600
2601
2602
2603
2604
2605
2606
2607
2608
2609
2610
2611
2612
2613
2614
2615
2616
2617
2618
2619
2620
2621
2622
2623
2624
2625
2626
2627
2628
2629
2630
2631
2632
2633
2634
2635
2636
2637
2638
2639
2640
2641
2642
2643
2644
2645
2646
2647
2648
2649
2650
2651
2652
2653
2654
2655
2656
2657
2658
2659
2660
2661
2662
2663
2664
2665
2666
2667
2668
2669
2670
2671
2672
2673
2674
2675
2676
2677
2678
2679
2680
2681
2682
2683
2684
2685
2686
2687
2688
2689
2690
2691
2692
2693
2694
2695
2696
2697
2698
2699
2700
2701
2702
2703
2704
2705
2706
2707
2708
2709
2710
2711
2712
2713
2714
2715
2716
2717
2718
2719
2720
2721
2722
2723
2724
2725
2726
2727
2728
2729
2730
2731
2732
2733
2734
2735
2736
2737
2738
2739
2740
2741
2742
2743
2744
2745
2746
2747
2748
2749
2750
2751
2752
2753
2754
2755
2756
2757
2758
2759
2760
2761
2762
2763
2764
2765
2766
2767
2768
2769
2770
2771
2772
2773
2774
2775
2776
2777
2778
2779
2780
2781
2782
2783
2784
2785
2786
2787
2788
2789
2790
2791
2792
2793
2794
2795
2796
2797
2798
2799
2800
2801
2802
2803
2804
2805
2806
2807
2808
2809
2810
2811
2812
2813
2814
2815
2816
2817
2818
2819
2820
2821
2822
2823
2824
2825
2826
2827
2828
2829
2830
2831
2832
2833
2834
2835
2836
2837
2838
2839
2840
2841
2842
2843
2844
2845
2846
2847
2848
2849
2850
2851
2852
2853
2854
2855
2856
2857
2858
2859
2860
2861
2862
2863
2864
2865
2866
2867
2868
2869
2870
2871
2872
2873
2874
2875
2876
2877
2878
2879
2880
2881
2882
2883
2884
2885
2886
2887
2888
2889
2890
2891
2892
2893
2894
2895
2896
2897
2898
2899
2900
2901
2902
2903
2904
2905
2906
2907
2908
2909
2910
2911
2912
2913
2914
2915
2916
2917
2918
2919
2920
2921
2922
2923
2924
2925
2926
2927
2928
2929
2930
2931
2932
2933
2934
2935
2936
2937
2938
2939
2940
2941
2942
2943
2944
2945
2946
2947
2948
2949
2950
2951
2952
2953
2954
2955
2956
2957
2958
2959
2960
2961
2962
2963
2964
2965
2966
2967
2968
2969
2970
2971
2972
2973
2974
2975
2976
2977
2978
2979
2980
2981
2982
2983
2984
2985
2986
2987
2988
2989
2990
2991
2992
2993
2994
2995
2996
2997
2998
2999
3000
3001
3002
3003
3004
3005
3006
3007
3008
3009
3010
3011
3012
3013
3014
3015
3016
3017
3018
3019
3020
3021
3022
3023
3024
3025
3026
3027
3028
3029
3030
3031
3032
3033
3034
3035
3036
3037
3038
3039
3040
3041
3042
3043
3044
3045
3046
3047
3048
3049
3050
3051
3052
3053
3054
3055
3056
3057
3058
3059
3060
3061
3062
3063
3064
3065
3066
3067
3068
3069
3070
3071
3072
3073
3074
3075
3076
3077
3078
3079
3080
3081
3082
3083
3084
3085
3086
3087
3088
3089
3090
3091
3092
3093
3094
3095
3096
3097
3098
3099
3100
3101
3102
3103
3104
3105
3106
3107
3108
3109
3110
3111
3112
3113
3114
3115
3116
3117
3118
3119
3120
3121
3122
3123
3124
3125
3126
3127
3128
3129
3130
3131
3132
3133
3134
3135
3136
3137
3138
3139
3140
3141
3142
3143
3144
3145
3146
3147
3148
3149
3150
3151
3152
3153
3154
3155
3156
3157
3158
3159
3160
3161
3162
3163
3164
3165
3166
3167
3168
3169
3170
3171
3172
3173
3174
3175
3176
3177
3178
3179
3180
3181
3182
3183
3184
3185
3186
3187
3188
3189
3190
3191
3192
3193
3194
3195
3196
3197
3198
3199
3200
3201
3202
3203
3204
3205
3206
3207
3208
3209
3210
3211
3212
3213
3214
3215
3216
3217
3218
3219
3220
3221
3222
3223
3224
3225
3226
3227
3228
3229
3230
3231
3232
3233
3234
3235
3236
3237
3238
3239
3240
3241
3242
3243
3244
3245
3246
3247
3248
|
The Project Gutenberg eBook, Handy War Guide for My Company, by André
Godefroy Lionel Hanguillart, Edited by Louis Joseph Alexandre Mercier,
Translated by Louis Joseph Alexandre Mercier
This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or
re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
Title: Handy War Guide for My Company
Handy Company Commander's Guide
Author: André Godefroy Lionel Hanguillart
Editor: Louis Joseph Alexandre Mercier
Release Date: December 6, 2013 [eBook #44370]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII)
***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HANDY WAR GUIDE FOR MY COMPANY***
E-text prepared by Emmy and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team
(http://www.pgdp.net) from page images generously made available by
Internet Archive (https://archive.org)
Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this
file which includes the original illustrations.
See 44370-h.htm or 44370-h.zip:
(http://www.gutenberg.org/files/44370/44370-h/44370-h.htm)
or
(http://www.gutenberg.org/files/44370/44370-h.zip)
Images of the original pages are available through
Internet Archive. See
https://archive.org/details/handywarguidefor00hang
Transcriber's note:
Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_).
Text enclosed by equal signs is in bold face (=bold=).
HANDY WAR GUIDE FOR MY COMPANY
Handy Company Commander's Guide
Written at the front by
CAPTAIN HANGUILLART
of the French Army
Translated and edited by
Louis J. A. Mercier, A.M.
First Lieutenant, Harvard R. O. T. C.
Interpreter with British Expeditionary Force on the
French Front 1914-17.
"_DASH UNDER DISCIPLINE_"
Copyright, 1918
by
R. D. Cortina Company.
The Cortina Academy of Languages
New York
1918
TABLE.
Preface 5
Part I.
Trench Life and Trench Warfare
Taking over the Trenches 11
Care and Improvement of the Trenches 14
The Watch from the Trenches 17
Patrolling 22
Interrogating Prisoners 25
Devices to draw the Enemy's Fire 28
An Attack, the Repulse 32
The Counter-Attack 34
Precautions against Enemy's Artillery 36
Use of Trench Artillery 37
Field Artillery Cooperation 39
Daily Schedule 41
Turning over the Trenches 43
Out of the Trenches 44
Topical Questions on Part I 46
Part II.
French Infantry Combat Principles.
Open Warfare 53
The Approach 55
Precautions against Silent Artillery 58
Crossing a Bombarded Zone 59
Use of Woods as Shelter 64
To Cross a Crest 65
The Fire Attack 69
Precautions against Cavalry 65
The Termination of the Approach 67
Use of Machine Guns 71
The Company Supports 72
The Companies in Support 73
The Charge and the Pursuit 73
Attack of a Wood 75
Attack of a Village 76
Attack of a Defile 77
Night Attacks 77
Defense of Woods 80
Defense of a Village 81
Defense of a Defile 82
Night Defense of a Position 83
The Counter Attack 83
Topical Questions on Part II 86
Appendix
A Division Front in Trench Warfare.
The Trench System
The Back Areas
Printed in the United States of America
by the International Press
150 Lafayette Street
New York City
PREFACE.
The first part of Captain Hanguillart's little book "_Petit Guide
pratique de Guerre pour ma compagnie_" has been incorporated in the new
manuals of instruction published for the young recruits of the French
army by the official military publishing house "Librairie Militaire
Berger-Levrault," the editors of the "Annuaire officiel de l'Armee."[A]
Its special value comes from the fact that it was written at the front
and is wholly based on the orders which Captain Hanguillart drew up for
the instruction of his own company and tested repeatedly through actual
experience.
Thus its very omissions are significant.
The text as it stands represents essentials.
Its every paragraph is a unit of tried advice.
=It embodies the practical data that has secured results.=
=It sums up the cautions that have saved lives.=
In the second part, Captain Hanguillart has merely reproduced the
French Infantry Combat principles long published in the official manual
for the instruction of platoon leaders.
In presenting this little work, no claim is made that it is adequate to
the complete instruction of company commanders.
Its obvious supplements are such works as: Colonel Paul
Azan--_The War of Position_.
_The Army War College_--Translation of the French
Manual for Commanders of Infantry Platoons.
Cole and Schoonmaker--_Military Instructors Manual_.
Major J. A. Moss--_Manual of Military Training_.
_U. S. A. Infantry Drill Regulations._
Captain Hanguillart's book should be carefully compared with these.
But because of its peculiar origin it has for the officer a value not
possessed by other books on this subject.
It gives what a company commander =actually found essential=.
Furthermore, it corresponds to the booklets published in France which
are placed in the hands of every recruit.
Every officer should have full knowledge of his specialty, but =every
private= should understand the essential concerns of his officers so as
to appreciate orders the more readily.
The army of democracy should be an intelligent thinking army.
Such little books have helped to give the French poilu his famed
self-reliance and resourcefulness.
It is the hope of the publishers that this translation may help to do
the same for his American comrades.
The publishers also believe that the book offers just the information
needed by civilians to follow intelligently reports of military
operations and of life at the front.
The editor has felt it his duty in rearranging the loose notes of
Captain Hanguillart to respect scrupulously the text, though, at times,
the best way to do so was through a free translation.
The paragraphs have been numbered and questions and diagrams added to
facilitate assimilation.
Cambridge, Mass.
L.J.A.M.
FOOTNOTE:
[A] Cf Chapuis. _Instruction theorique et generale du soldat pour la
periode de guerre._ 27e edition, January 1917.
Part I.
Trench Life and Trench
Warfare.
TRENCH LIFE AND TRENCH WARFARE.
TAKING OVER THE TRENCHES.
1.--Leaving Billets.
The battalions of a Brigade occupying a given sector of the front are
billeted when out of the trenches, in the villages closest to their
sector. Cf. appendix.
When their turn comes to relieve the battalions in the trenches, the
officers in charge should have the following instructions carried out:
2.--On the day before the relief make sure:
That the rifles, bayonets, etc., are in good condition.
That the ammunition and reserve rations are supplied.
That the equipment of every man is complete.
That all officers and N.C.O.'s watches are set to
division time.
3.--On the day of the relief, one hour before departure:
Have rifles stacked and equipment laid out outside the
billets.
Make sure that nothing is left behind, that premises
are cleaned, all rubbish burnt, and latrines filled.
Have rifles loaded and with the safety lock turned to
the safe.
Assign an energetic N. C. O. to act as file closer of
each platoon to prevent straggling.
Call the roll and have it duly forwarded to the company
commander.
4.--On the way to the trenches:
If under fire, have units march at proper intervals
(Cf. par. 117ff.)
Adopt marching order best suitable to avoid blocking
the road.
At night do not allow smoking.
Exact silence when nearing the trenches.
Take special precaution at all times to maintain
constant communication between units, especially at
night and when crossing woods.
If enemy aeroplanes appear, stop and keep out of sight
as much as possible. (Cf. par. 120.)
5.--On reaching the trenches:
The relief should be completed in silence--without
hurry.
Carefully ascertain the orders of the battalion
relieved.
Check up and assign to each unit the supplies taken
over.
Requisition at once additional supplies and ammunition
wanted.
Each platoon should be assigned its special duties,
the duty roster drawn up for all sentry and patrol
duties, details, etc.
Have all the men locate the enemy trench as they come
on duty and give them the range.
Inspect the dugouts and assign them.
Forbid all digging under the parapet.
Inspect the latrines. Give strict order that small
amount of dirt be thrown in after use and that lime
be sprinkled in daily.
See that the men are provided with ammunition.
Communication should be insured between the various
units to the right and left and with the rear.
CARE AND IMPROVEMENT OF THE TRENCHES.
6.--Improvements:
Investigate the work under way for the improvement
of defense and prepare plans for further work if
necessary.
Obvious improvements are: making additional
communication trenches, repairing or completing
shelters, listening posts, mining tunnels, wire
entanglements.
7.--Ammunition shelters:
See that there are a sufficient number of shelters
for rifle ammunition, grenades, rockets and other
supplies.
8.--Loopholes and Parapet:
Ascertain the conditions of all the loopholes and
have them repaired if need be. (They should cut the
parapet diagonally and be concealed in every way
possible with vegetation, branches, and the opening
blocked when not in use.)
Have all damages to the parapet and to the ground
underneath quickly attended to.
See that in each section there are small ladders to
permit of easy access to the top of the parapet.
See that means are provided to fire above the parapet
in case of an attack.
9.--Drainage:
Attend carefully to the drainage. Have the trench
bottom kept convex with small gutters on either side
running into pits lined with gabions. If trench
bottom is lined with board walks, keep it in repair.
Have water pits emptied if necessary.
10.--Sanitation:
Have latrines kept in perfect sanitary order.
Have them filled up and others dug =if need be=.
Have all rubbish collected and carried out.
11.--Precautions against capture of fire-trench.
Prepare for the obstruction of the communicating
trenches in case the enemy should capture the fire
trench: Have piles of sand bags above the entrance of
each trench ready to be dumped into it. Have chevaux
de frise lined up on one parapet of the trench and
all held up in such a way by a single wire that when
the wire is cut they will fall into the trench. Mines
can also be prepared to blow up the trench when
invaded. The communicating trench between the fire
trench and the listening post should be covered with
barbed wire screens or be tunnelled.
THE WATCH FROM THE TRENCHES.
12.--Trench Warfare an outpost duty.
Trench warfare, the inevitable form of modern warfare, is a continuous
series of outpost duty. Hence it is based wholly on eternal vigilance.
The patrols correspond to the scouts; the listening posts to the
sentinels; the firing trench to the outguards; the cover trench to the
supports. The safety of the sector depends entirely on the vigilance
of the advanced elements and the rapidity with which supports and the
reserves can be summoned.
Watching is thus the fundamental duty in trench warfare.
The following points should be kept in mind:
AT ALL TIMES
13.--Number of men in the fire trench.
There must be as many sentinels in each section as is necessary to
cover completely the sector to be watched, no more, no less, each
sentinel being given the exact limits (such as tree, copse, post,
etc.) at each end of the line he should watch.
14.--Fix bayonets.
The men on duty should have bayonets fixed as, in case of a possible
surprise, they are needed for defense. Otherwise too, fixing bayonets
would be an indication to the enemy of an impending raid.
DURING THE DAY.
15.--Observation of open terrain.
When the terrain opposite is open country, the necessary observation
may be done by the smallest possible number of men. Fire only, if any
of the enemy are sighted. Then, have two rounds fired, then three. But
keep fire under strict control. (If enemy continues to approach. Cf.
par. 52 ff.)
16.--Observation of covered terrain.
When the terrain is covered (high brush wood, copses, trees, etc.) a
sharpshooter in each section should fire occasionally into the trees,
etc., which may be observation or sharpshooters' posts but this should
not be overdone.
AT NIGHT.
17.--Double sentinels.
Post double sentinels in each section, each man watching in turn, the
other resting but within call.
18.--Silence.
They should refrain from making the least noise so as to hear and not
be heard.
19.--No firing when fired upon.
There should be no firing when the enemy fires since when the enemy
fires, he does not advance.
20.--Look and listen.
They should keep a sharp lookout but listen even more attentively.
21.--In the listening posts.
Sentinels in the listening posts should listen especially for the noise
of crushed branches, stirring leaves, slight noise of arms or utensils.
If enemy is detected, these sentinels should hasten back to fire trench
to give the alarm quietly so that the enemy may be surprised.
They should fire only if they are themselves caught unawares.
Listening posts should not be too numerous, about two per battalion.
If there are no listening posts, patrols should be sent out to
favorable spots especially at sundown and before sunrise.
22.--Enemy sighted or heard, fire.
If the night is clear and the terrain is open, proceed as during the
day: If the enemy is sighted or heard, fire in short volleys. In case
of doubt throw grenades with the first volley.
23.--Otherwise no firing.
Otherwise, absolute silence should be observed. No firing whatever.
24.--Unless night is dark.
If the night is dark, to avoid surprise, keep up firing: One man per
section should fire in turn, from time to time varying the direction.
25.--Digging by enemy.
If digging by the enemy is reported, cease firing. Have it located,
throw bombs followed by volleys. Notify sappers for counter mining.
26.--Watch for light of enemy's fire.
If enemy fires, note where light appears.
27.--Posting of sharpshooters.
Locate sharpshooters in advantageous posts behind the trenches (trees,
etc.). Have them fire into the enemy's listening posts and into the
enemy's trench, especially wherever light appears. These posts should
not be occupied during the day.
28.--Patrols.
Send out patrols, stationary or mobile.
PATROLLING.
29.--Functions of Patrols.
The aim: to supplement the work of the listening posts and of the
sentinels through more forward observation. To discover the movements
and the operations of the enemy. To locate his emplacements.
To keep in close touch with the enemy so as to take advantage of his
possible weaknesses: lack of watchfulness, of ammunition, of sufficient
troops. To verify, repair and complete advance defences. To get the
exact range of enemy's positions. To bring back prisoners.
30.--Time to patrol.
Patrols should be on duty through the night but be specially watchful
before sunrise.
31.--Assignment of patrol duty.
N. C. O. and men should be assigned to patrol duty by roster or as
volunteers. In the former case, if there is reason to think that a
patrol has not done its best to secure information, the same men should
be sent out again.
32.--Sentinels should know about patrols.
Neighboring companies should be notified of the departure, route and
probable time of return of patrols. If several patrols are sent out at
the same time they should know one another's itinerary.
33.--Dress and equipment of patrols.
The men (3 to 5 commanded by N. C. O.) should carry no impediments
and their dress should not interfere with ease of movements: sweaters
should be worn instead of overcoats. The woolen cap or comforter should
be worn as they cover most of the face. Slits should be cut for the
ears that hearing be not interfered with. The helmet should always be
worn over comforter. Also dark gloves to hide the hands. No equipment
save the rifle, the bayonet fixed or carried in the hand, (no bayonet
scabbard), a few hand grenades.
34.--Method of advance.
Patrols should crawl forward or advance by short dashes, silently, stop
often and for long periods, listen intently.
35.--Under flare light.
If the enemy sends up lighting rockets (flares) or fires volleys, lie
flat on the ground until he stops.
36.--Against an hostile patrol.
If a small hostile patrol approaches, do the same, throw a stone or two
so as to turn its attention away and take advantage of this to surprise
it. If men of enemy's patrol give the alarm, kill them--lie flat on
ground during enemy's volleys which will follow. Then strip bodies of
distinctive uniform badges, and search for papers, etc. Otherwise bring
men back as prisoners.
37.--Need of initiative.
Patrols should exercise initiative, take advantage of circumstances, in
devising ways of bringing back the greatest possible amount of useful
information.
INTERROGATING PRISONERS.
38.--Information from prisoners.
One of the chief aims of patrolling is to bring back prisoners from
whom information may be gathered.
39.--Its use by General Staff.
The General Staff is interested to know the nationality, the division,
the age, etc. of prisoners captured in a given sector.
40.--Its use by company commander.
But these are of little value to the battalion or company commander.
Hence, when possible, they should ask the prisoners questions more
pertinent to the organization of the enemy sector opposite:
41.--Questions to ask.
How strongly are your various lines held?
Where are the C. O. Post and the officers' dugouts?
When and by what routes are the reliefs made, how often and on what
days and at what time. Ask the same questions for the fatigues.
At what time are rations brought or served?
What is the actual muster of the company?
How many regular army officers, how many reserve officers? What do the
men think of their officers?
How many advanced posts? How many men in each, by day and by night? Do
they have grenades and how are they relieved?
How many men are sent out on patrol, how often, at what time, by what
route coming and going? How are they dressed and armed? What are their
instructions?
What does the enemy know about our own patrols?
Are snipers placed in trees during the day and at night? If so, what
trees are used. What parts of our sectors can they see?
Are they planning any raids? Do they anticipate raids by us?
What work are they carrying on during the day and at night?
Have they any idea of our own activities?
What is the nature and the location of their accessory defences?
What is the location of their machine guns, trench mortars?
Have they any asphyxiating gas or liquid fire apparatus?
Have they abundant supplies of hand grenades, etc., etc.
DEVICES TO DRAW THE ENEMY'S FIRE.
42.--To make enemy waste ammunition.
Any devices which lead the enemy to waste ammunition or to expose
themselves is a clear gain.
Many may be readily devised and officers and men should be encouraged
to do so. The following have often proved successful:
43.--Pretend abandoning trench.
Remain absolutely quiescent during several days. This may lead the
enemy to send out patrols or raiding parties which may be the more
surely destroyed. They should be allowed to approach to the wire
entanglements before a shot is fired.
44.--Pretend a raid.
On dark nights, have all firing stop. Throw stones by hand or with
slings, a dozen at a time toward the enemy's trench. This will lead
him to fire repeated volleys and waste ammunition in his fear of an
attack, especially if the trenches are in wooded terrain and there are
leaves on the ground. Repeat several times during the night.
Patrols may also tie strings to the enemy's barb wire. On dark nights
pulling on the string may lead the enemy to fire.
45.--Use decoys.
Decoys may be arranged in trees or stuck up momentarily over the
parapet. They will draw the enemy's fire.
46.--Pretend a fire attack.
If the enemy's trenches are near enough for the sound to carry,
whistles may be blown all along the line before a volley. They may
be blown again after the command to omit the volley. The enemy may
continue to fire indefinitely.
47.--Watch out for enemy's ruses.
Let the aim of all these devices be to make the enemy waste ammunition
and to save your own. On the other hand, the enemy is likely to attempt
like ruses and many others which are not permissible such as the use of
white flags or raising hands to indicate pretended surrender.
48.--His use of blank cartridges.
A legitimate ruse, of which the enemy is fond and which should be
guarded against, consists in their firing blank cartridges to mask an
advance of their men. It is clear that men do not advance while bullets
are fired from their own trenches. Nor does one fire in retaliation
until the enemy's fire ceases. A little attention will be sufficient to
spoil this plan as, when only blank cartridges are fired, no bullets
will whiz by. As long as the enemy fires blank cartridges, withhold
your own fire, be on guard against the appearance of patrols and be
ready to receive them when they draw near.
49.--His use of flares.
In case the enemy sends up flares, patrols should lie flat and
motionless till after the volley which often follows. The sentinels in
the fire trench should note spot where flare was sent up and abstain
from firing unless enemy is sighted out of his trenches.
50.--His machine guns.
If a machine gun opens fire from the trench opposite, try to locate it
through the light and sound at night, through sound and actual sight
during the day.
Fire a converging volley of two rounds in its direction, and repeat,
but not over six rounds if unsuccessful.
At the same time let trench mortars fire bombs in the same direction.
51.--His field and trench artillery fire.
If enemy's artillery fires upon trenches (Cf. par. 69 ff.)
AN ATTACK.
THE REPULSE.
52.--A threatened raid.
As has been stated (par. 15 and 22) in case enemy patrols approach,
volleys of two, then of three rounds should be fired. Keep cool. Do not
fire prematurely.
53.--Fire above parapet.
The firing should be done over the parapet and not through the
loopholes.
54.--When alarm is given.
If the sentinels report that an attack is developing, every one on duty
takes his post.
55.--Flares.
Flares are sent up from each section.
56.--Trench Mortars.
Trench mortars fire bombs with the first volley.
57.--How to repulse an attack.
If the attack materializes, repeat volleys and trench mortar discharge
and open fire with the machine guns.
(On dark nights, in covered terrain, the machine guns should be fired
with the first volley.)
58.--Use of hand grenades.
Hand grenades should be thrown as soon as the enemy is within 30 yards.
The grenadiers of the odd number squads should aim to throw their
grenades upon the assailants while those of the even number squads
should try to establish a barrage by throwing behind the assailants.
59.--Use of trench mortars.
The trench mortars are aimed at the enemy's trench.
60.--Use of the machine guns.
The machine guns fire directly at the assailants, with slight
differences in height of aim, (knee high, waist high, etc.) according
to the directions previously given to each man.
61.--Fire Control.
Carefully keep fire rifle under control and avoid wasting ammunition.
Never fire without aiming. If the ground ahead is flat, aim waist-high;
if it slopes down, aim close to the soil; if it slopes up, aim at
height of chest.
62.--Repulse with the bayonet.
If some of the enemy reach the trench, dispose of them with the bayonet.
63.--Save ammunition.
Cease firing and abstain from further firing as soon as the attack is
repulsed.
THE COUNTER ATTACK.
64.--Immediate.
It should follow immediately upon the successful repulse of the attack.
65.--Counter attack formation.
It should be developed in the following formation:
1st. Grenadiers armed only with a bayonet, a bowie knife, a revolver
and a full stock of grenades. With them a few men with pliers for wire
cutting.
2nd. Next a skirmish line of riflemen with a full supply of ammunition.
3rd. Lastly, a line of men with entrenching tools.[B]
66.--Method of advance.
Proceed by short leaps making use of available protection and crawl
flat on the ground in approaching the enemy's trench.
67.--Capture of the enemy's fire trench.
After the defenders in the fire trench are killed, jump in, throw bombs
into the dugouts, pursue the enemy into the support and communication
trenches.
68.--Organize it against the enemy.
Let then the engineers block up to the right and left the captured
trench and organize it rapidly against the enemy, making it face about
(through changing the parados into a parapet). The enemy is pursued as
far as possible and kept away while fatigue parties from the rear bring
up all necessary ammunition, sand bags, barbed wire, etc., carrying
back all the captured enemy material. Other fatigue parties start at
once to connect the former fire trench with the captured trench by
communication trenches.
FOOTNOTE:
[B] Modifications of this formation have since been adopted. Cf. Works
cited in preface.
CONCERNING ARTILLERY.
PRECAUTIONS AGAINST ENEMY'S ARTILLERY.
69.--Artillery Bombardment.
Whether preliminary to, in connection with, or independent of an
infantry attack, the enemy may make use of his artillery.
This bombardment may be directed against the fire trench or back of the
fire-trench.
70.--Case I.--Bombardment of the Fire Trench.
71.--All in shelter except sentinels.
Leave in the fire trench the necessary sentinels.
Station all the other men in the shelters of the support trench, or
along the communication trench, if there are no shelters, but fully
equipped and ready to jump to their places in the fire trench as soon
as the enemy's artillery fire will stop or lengthen to allow his
infantry to advance.
72.--Fire to impede observation.
All through the bombardment, the sentinels should fire at all objects
in the distance which may be used as observation posts. The machine
guns should cooperate with a slow sweeping fire.
73.--Case II.--Bombardment back of Fire Trench.
74.--Watch for infantry attack.
All should stand to in the fire trench watching for a possible infantry
attack and for a possible shortening of the enemy's bombardment. If it
occurs, proceed as in Case I.
75.--Prevent observation.
Fire against possible observation posts as in Case I.
USE OF TRENCH ARTILLERY.
76.--Use with a purpose.
Whatever trench artillery appliances are provided, bomb-throwers,
trench mortars, catapults, etc., they should never be used hap-hazard,
but always with great deliberation and forethought.
Have a distinct end in view and watch for the best opportunity to
attain it.
Such definite aims may be: to interfere with a relief, a fatigue, a
trench construction or repair, to destroy accessory defences, etc.
77.--Keep it ready.
Let the mortars, etc., be kept loaded and trained on the target
selected, ready to be fired instantly. The crews should be near at hand
and a sentinel posted to watch for a favorable opportunity.
78.--Save ammunition.
Until this opportunity occurs, do not fire.
79.--Have several emplacements.
Several emplacements should be provided so that mortars, etc., may be
removed as soon as they have obtained desired results or been located
by the enemy.
The trench mortar commander should make it his business to study
carefully all possibilities for effective emplacements and should
inspire his men to be alert and quick to improve opportunities.
80.--Use of machine guns.
The machine guns should likewise be handled as a mobile weapon and
not be used merely from elaborate carefully concealed emplacements
commanding otherwise uncovered ground or enfilading communication
trenches, etc.[C]
81.--Use of hand grenades.
Hand grenades may be listed as trench artillery. The temptation is to
use them too freely. Like other ammunition they should never be wasted
and always used with a definite aim.
FOOTNOTE:
[C] Captain Hanguillart treats this important subject very summarily.
Cf. Cole & Schoonmaker's Military Instructor's Manual p. 319. He also
barely mentions Gas attacks. Cf. very complete treatment in same work,
p. 356 to 370.
FIELD ARTILLERY COOPERATION.
82.--Communications with the artillery.
Should be permanent so that it may cooperate whether to repulse an
enemy's attack, to silence his artillery, to damage his defences or to
prepare and protect an attack or a counter attack.
83.--Observations posts.
To avoid a waste of ammunition, and attain the desired result as well
as to prevent the artillery fire from falling short upon one's own
trenches, artillery observation posts should be provided in the fire
trench or at one of the outposts.
84.--Artillery fire falling short.
In case artillery fire does fall short upon one's own trenches,
communicate at once with artillery commander and proceed as when
bombarded by enemy. (Cf. 69 ff.)
85.--Artillery preparation of infantry attack.
Special caution should be exercised in the case of a raid against the
enemy's trench. Make sure that the artillery preparation has secured
the desired result. Synchronize carefully the infantry advance and the
lengthening of the artillery fire.
DAILY SCHEDULE.
86.--Rosters and schedules.
Throughout the stay in the trenches, the various fatigues should be
assigned by roster and carried out according to schedule. The following
schedule has been found practical:
7 A.M. (6 A.M. in summer).
87.--Cleaning of trenches.
Have trenches cleaned of all rubbish, latrines disinfected, drinking
water supplied.
88.--Collecting of broken equipment.
All cartridge shells, broken tools, etc. should be collected.
89.--Requisition Report.
A list of the supplies and ammunition needed should be drawn up.
90.--Report on night activities.
Full report should be brought to the company commander, covering the
work of the patrols and of the fatigue parties, and giving full details
of all that has happened during the night.
91.--Report on casualties.
Also the list of casualties in the last twelve hours with full names
and nature of wound if possible.
92.--Disposal of property of dead and wounded.
The arms and complete equipment of the wounded should be sent out
with them. The arms and equipment of the killed should be sent to
the battalion commander. Their personal effects; money, papers,
letters, etc., should be carefully collected, listed, and sent to the
sergeant-major.
8 A.M.
93.--Sick Parade.
The men able to walk are taken to the doctor's dugout by an N.C.O.
4 P.M.
94.--Assignment of patrols.
Assign night patrols from roster. Point out itinerary while light
permits. Have neighbouring sectors advised of same.
(8. P.M.)
95.--Inspections.
Inspection of sentinels in fire trench. Inspection of ammunition
supplies.
TURNING OVER THE TRENCHES.
THE RELIEF.
96.--In the afternoon and in each section:
Have all the tools and supplies collected and list drawn up ready to
hand over to successor against receipt for same.
Inspect equipment of men that they may be taken out completely.
Check up exact itinerary of relief in and out.
97.--At the time of relief:
Have rifles inspected and emptied.
Give strict orders for silence.
Follow same marching order as when coming in.
Have officer march in rear.
98.--On reaching billets.
Have the roll called and sent to the officer of the day.
Have rifles inspected.
THE DAY AFTER THE RELIEF.
99.--Replace equipment.
Have all arms cleaned and oiled.
Have broken arms turned in and others issued.
Inspect shoes, clothes, equipment, tools, and replace when needed.
Have special inspection of gas-masks and replace if needed.
100.--Sanitation.
Have underwear washed, and personal cleanliness attended to, baths,
hair-cuts, etc.
Have premises kept clean and latrines disinfected daily.
OUT OF THE TRENCHES.
101.--Specialists' Instruction.
While in rest billets: Have all specialists' instruction continued:
sharpshooters, bomb-throwers, signallers, etc.
102.--Bayonet exercises.
Should be given special attention.
103.--Close and extended order drill
and marching give the men needed exercise.
104.--Relaxation.
should also be provided: in the form of games, contests,
entertainments, etc. They help to keep the men "fit."
105.--Efficiency.
The company commander should make it is his constant concern that his
men be kept at the highest possible point of efficiency.
QUESTIONS.
The following questions are topical. Supplements to the
answers found in this book should be looked for in the
larger works referred to in the preface.
Trench Life and Trench Warfare.
1.--What inspections should be made on the day before the relief?
2.--State orders to be issued one hour before departure.
3.--What may be the marching orders, on the way to the trenches?
4.--Describe precautions to be taken against enemy's fire, against
aeroplanes.
5.--What other precautions should be taken?
6.--What should the company commander attend to on reaching the
trenches?
7.--What possible improvements of trenches are obviously called for?
8.--What special attention should be given the parapet?
9.--Give rules for drainage and sanitation.
10.--What precautions may be taken against capture of fire-trench?
11.--What does trench warfare correspond to in open warfare?
12.--What does the safety of a sector depend on?
13.--What is the fundamental duty in trench warfare?
14.--What rule determines the number of men to be posted in the
fire-trench?
15.--Sum up their orders about firing before open terrain, before
covered terrain.
16.--What is meant by double sentinels?
17.--Why is listening attentively even more important than keeping a
sharp look out?
18.--Why should the sentinels refrain from answering the enemy's fire?
19.--What is expected of the men in the listening posts?
20.--When should the sentinels fire on a clear night? When, on a dark
night?
21.--What should the sentinels do, if they hear the enemy's digging?
22.--When and where are sharpshooters posted and what is their duty?
23.--What information may patrols bring back?
24.--When should patrols be sent out and how should they be assigned?
25.--What should the sentinels along a sector know about the patrols,
and the several possible patrols know about one another?
26.--Describe dress and equipment of men on patrols.
27.--Describe their method of advance.
28.--What should they do on encountering a hostile patrol?
29.--What should be the motto of men on patrol?
30.--What are some of the most useful informations about the enemy, you
should try to obtain?
31.--What motto should you have about ammunition?
32.--Describe several ways of leading enemy to waste ammunition.
33.--What is the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate ruses?
34.--On what principle is the enemy's ruse of the use of blank
cartridges based?
35.--How may this ruse be foiled?
36.--What should the sentinels, and what should the men on patrol do,
when the enemy sends up flares?
37.--How should the enemy's machine gun fire be answered?
An Enemy's Attack.
38.--Describe procedure when enemy's patrols are sighted by sentinels
and when an attack develops.
39.--When are the trench mortars and the machine guns fired?
40.--How are hand grenades thrown?
41.--Where should the rifle fire be aimed?
42.--When are bayonets used?
43.--Is it sufficient to repulse an attack?
44.--What formation should be adopted for the counter attack?
45.--How is the advance made and the counter attack carried out?
46.--Describe what is meant by organization of a newly conquered trench.
47.--What should be done, if the enemy bombards the fire-trench?
48.--What should the sentinels do?
49.--What should be done if the bombardment is back of the fire-trench?
50.--What general rule applies to the use of all trench artillery?
51.--What are its ordinary objectives?
52.--How are trench mortars handled?
53.--What is meant by calling trench-artillery mobile weapons?
54.--Give a general caution for the use of all ammunition.
55.--What is essential to secure effective artillery fire?
56.--What should be done if one's own artillery fire falls short upon
one's own trenches?
57.--How is coordination between artillery and infantry secured in case
of a raid?
58.--What are the principal items of the morning schedule, of the
afternoon schedule?
59.--Describe the preparations for leaving the trenches.
60.--What orders are given at the time of relief?
61.--What is done before the men are dismissed to their billets?
62.--How should the days in rest billets be utilized?
63.--Describe a typical day in the trenches.
64.--Describe a typical day in rest billets.
65.--What should be the supreme aim alike of men and officers?
Part II.
French Infantry Combat
Principles.
FRENCH INFANTRY COMBAT PRINCIPLES.
OPEN WARFARE.
106.--Is open warfare probable?
It is improbable that in this war trench warfare will definitely give
place on all sectors of the front to open warfare.
But the tactics that have forced several retirements will force others.
If sufficient troops are available, tried and fit and resolute, with
the necessary quantities of ammunition and improved artillery, we shall
see German arrogance and brutality in victory become again cringing
fear and demoralization in defeat; the experience of the Marne will
be repeated and the invaders will be driven out of the territory they
swarmed over through treacherous breaking of treaties.
107.--The need of training in Infantry Combat Principles.
That day the infantry will come again unto its own and its dash and
resolution will insure victory.
To achieve it, it must be a well trained infantry, in the old sense
of the word. Officers, non-commissioned officers and men must have a
thorough and practical knowledge of Infantry Combat Principles.
These should be practiced in the intervals of trench service when the
battalion is in rest billets.
Their theory should be thoroughly mastered by all on whom may devolve
responsibility.
108.--The two phases of the Combat.
We shall study here the two principal phases of the combat: the
approach and the attack, from the point of view of the company
commander.
109.--The Defense.
We shall also consider the Combat from the standpoint of the Defense.
THE APPROACH.
110.--All maneuvering at close range impossible.
In the attack, the infantry can proceed only straight ahead. Under
infantry fire all maneuvering is impossible. Therefore by "approach" is
meant all maneuvering preparatory to the attack: It brings the troops
directly in front of and as near as possible to the objective.
PRELIMINARY DISPOSITIONS TO START THE APPROACH.
111.--The orders to attack.
The company commander will receive his orders from the battalion
commander.
112.--Equipment and Liaison.
In the meanwhile let the lieutenants:
a) make sure that the men are fully equipped and
provided with full allotment of ammunition;
b) appoint and parade connecting files (runners) to
await orders.
113.--Distribution of Orders.
The company commander having received his orders from the battalion
commander, will then call his subordinates and issue his own orders
accordingly, including the formation to be adopted.
114.--Combat patrols.
He will make sure that there are combat patrols on the exposed flank or
flanks and to the front and rear if need be.
It is well to have combat patrols detach automatically. It may be
understood, once for all, that, without further orders, the first squad
will cover in front, the second to the right, the third to the left,
the fourth to the rear, whenever needed. Still, the officer in charge
should make sure that this arrangement is carried out.
A combat patrol, if not a full advance guard, will thus always precede
a unit and be the first to take contact with the enemy.
115.--Officers as guides.
The officers serve as guides to their units, until deployment, a
mounted officer in liaison with the advance guard or advanced combat
patrol checking up the itinerary.
116.--Keep Close Order as long as possible.
The advance of a company into an engagement is conducted in close
order, preferably columns of squads, until possible observation by the
enemy or encountering of hostile fire makes it advisable to deploy.
Deployment should not be premature and should always follow upon the
conditions arising during the progress of the advance.
PRECAUTIONS AGAINST HOSTILE ARTILLERY.
AGAINST SILENT ARTILLERY.
117.--Nearing artillery which may open fire.
About two or three miles from the positions liable to be occupied by
the enemy's field artillery, precautions should be taken against the
possibility of its opening fire.
118.--Deployment.
Deployments should be adopted best suited to escape observation:
119.--To escape direct observation:
March in single or double file, the whole section[D] keeping closed up
so as to diminish the number of files seen from the front.
120.--Under aeroplane observation:
Avoid especially the center of roads as they show white, utilize on the
contrary the spaces between cultivated fields of different colors,
make use of all possible cover, trees, shrubs, ditches, embankments.
Always walk in the shade when possible. If hostile aeroplanes are
flying low, halt and lie down on left side, hiding face in elbow.
FOOTNOTE:
[D] The French "section" comprises 54 men. It is thus equivalent to 7
squads, and may be considered as 2 platoons.
CROSSING A BOMBARDED ZONE.
121.--Case I. Artillery opening fire to register.
A registering fire is easily recognized as the German artillery
registers either with a single percussion shell at a time, or with two
time-shells at three seconds interval.
In the German field gun, the setting of the angle of sight[E] and of
the elevation[F] involves two operations.
122.--Oblique to right then to left.
Therefore infantry under registering fire should oblique forward
rapidly.
123.--Case II: Artillery opening fire for effect.
The zone has necessarily been previously registered. Such a zone is
easily recognized by the presence of shell holes.
124.--Avoid Zone if possible.
It should be avoided and the advance made on its outskirts.
125.--The five cases of fire for effect.
If this cannot be done and the fire for effect materializes five cases
are to be distinguished as the shells may be:
1. Shrapnel shells bursting at right height;
2. Shrapnel shells bursting high;
3. Time-Fuse high explosive shells bursting at right
height;
4. Time-Fuse high explosive shells bursting high;
5. Percussion high explosive shells.
126.--Case 1. Burst Area of Shrapnel shells bursting at right height.
The area of burst is about 250 to 300 yards in length and 30 yards in
width, half the bullets falling on the first 50 yards of the beaten
zone.
127.--Protective Formation against Shrapnel.
Advance in line of section, in single or double file keeping as closed
up as possible with 30 yards intervals between sections.
The second line should be 250 to 300 yards behind the first.
128.--Case 2. Shrapnel shells bursting high.
Much less dangerous than when bursting at right height as initial speed
of bullets is spent. Same formation as for Case 1.
129.--Case 3. Burst area of Time-fuse high explosive shells bursting at
right height.
The area of burst is opposite to that of shrapnel: short depth, large
width, only 7 to 10 yards depths as opposed to 60 to 100 yards in width.
130.--Protective Formation against Time-fuse high explosives.
Advance in line of section, single or double file, keeping as closed up
as possible with 60 to 100 yards intervals between sections.
The second line may be 15 yards behind the first.
131.--Case 4. High explosive shells bursting high.
The depth of the area of burst is longer than when shells burst at the
right height; therefore widen interval between the lines.
132.--Case 5. Burst area of percussion high explosive shells.
The radius of the explosion is only about 25 yards but the local effect
is intense and the displacement is effective in more than double the
radius.
133.--Protective Formation against percussion high explosive shells.
Advance in line of section in double file, keeping as closed up as
possible, with about 100 yards intervals between sections.
The second line may be about 50 yards behind the first.
FOOTNOTES:
[E] Inclination of the line of sight to the horizontal.
[F] The vertical inclination of the gun.
GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS AGAINST ALL TYPES OF EFFECTIVE FIRE.
134.--Dangerous to stop, useless to run.
Do not stop in a zone under fire for effect as lying down only provides
a larger target. If absolutely obliged to stop, remain standing
and packed together like sardines, maintaining above formations and
intervals. It is useless to run, but, as much as possible, advance
steadily.
135.--Protective Formation against all types of shells.
As may appear from the study of the above the following formation
and intervals will afford the best protection against all types and
combinations of types of shells, as a shell will never affect more than
one section.
Advance in lines of sections in double file, keeping as closed up as
possible, with 85 to 110 yards intervals[G] between sections.
The second line should be 250 to 300 yards behind the first.
FOOTNOTE:
[G] All through this chapter, maximum intervals are given. They may
have to be shortened to secure closer order at the expense of greater
safety.
SPECIAL FEATURES OF THE APPROACH.
USE OF WOODS AS SHELTER ON THE ADVANCE.
136.--Avoid if small.
They should be used to advance or halt only if they are of considerable
size. Then, they hide movements and provide some shelter from fire. On
the contrary, when they are small, they are to be avoided as they draw
artillery fire and do not offer sufficient protection.
137.--Liaison difficult.
When advancing in woods, special care should be taken to keep all
fractions connected.
138.--Exit quickly at one time.
To exit from wood, take all necessary dispositions under cover so that,
on the signal of the commander, all fractions may be ready to spring
out together. They should continue to advance forward, as rapidly as
possible, to avoid the enemy's likely shelling of the outskirts.
138.--Otherwise exit in different places.
If the exit cannot be made by all fractions at one time, the elements
of the second line should avoid coming out at the same point as those
of the first line.
TO CROSS A CREST.
139.--Cross altogether and rapidly.
Let the line of sections assemble at top of crest, crouching carefully
below the sky line. Then, upon concerted signal, all should leap
quickly across and down the descending slope, making as extended bounds
as possible.
This makes crossing fairly safe as even the infantry will have to
modify both its elevation and angle of sight for every new position of
this quickly moving target.
PRECAUTIONS AGAINST CAVALRY.
140.--Cavalry Patrols.
During the whole "approach" watch should be kept for possible cavalry
patrols. The elements acting as advance guard and flank guards or
as combat patrols have as part of their special mission to keep the
cavalry away from the main body.
141.--Face and Fire.
To repulse cavalry, the infantry must be able to face quickly toward
the charging horsemen and furnish a heavy fire.
142.--Protective formations.
If cavalry patrols are expected ahead, deployment as skirmishers will
secure this, if on the flanks, deploy in columns of squads marching in
double file. A formation in echelon is effective at all times.
143.--Repulsing the charge.
If cavalry appears, stop, face the charge quickly, fix bayonets and
fire at will, the section leaders controlling the fire.
144.--In case of surprise.
If surprised, deploy quickly and lie down.
THE ATTACK.
THE TERMINATION OF THE APPROACH.
145.--The Objective.
The standard objective of a battalion is a maximum front of 550 yards.
146.--Determination of the Objective.
On nearing the objective the battalion commander reconnoiters rapidly
to determine the number of companies to put in the front line and the
part of the objective to be assigned to each.
147.--Horses sent back.
Mounted officers now send back their horses to reserve battalion.
148.--Assignment of position to companies.
The battalion commander assigns to each company its part of the
objective and the position from which it is to start the attack.
149.--Getting into position for the attack.
The orders are given verbally by the battalion commander to the
captains and by the captains to the company usually through the platoon
leaders as the company is not in close order.
150.--Deployment before infantry fire.
As soon as the zone swept by the infantry fire of the enemy is reached
(about 1000 yards) deployment as skirmishers becomes imperative.
151.--Methods of advance.
Keep on advancing toward positions for the attack by fractions, varying
method according to the terrain; short rushes, crawling, making use of
all possible cover.
152.--Position of officers.
The battalion commander and the captains march with the supports, the
battalion commander controlling the despatch of reinforcements. As
soon as the supports are all sent forward they march with the fraction
nearest the enemy.
153.--Liaison.
A connecting file (runner) accompanies the battalion commander and each
of the captains.
THE FIRE ATTACK.
154.--The time to fire.
It is determined by the casualties.
155.--The order to fire.
It is given by the captains; (only in case of extreme emergency by a
subaltern.)
156.--Fire Control.
The section leaders, under the direction of the captain; control the
fire: classes of firing, volley firing, firing at will; the target (the
nearest hostile troops within the sector of the objective being the
usual target); the range, the opening and cessation of fire in volley
fire.
157.--Fire observation.
The section leaders are helped in their observation of the fire effect
by observers standing besides them. The fire is usually directed
independently by section or half section.
158.--Verification of range.
In principle, the corporals do not take part in the fire but verify
the range and direction of the fire of their respective squads.
ADVANCING THE FIRING LINE.
159.--Methods of advance.
To advance the firing line in attack, all means are good: by section,
half-section, squad, the only condition being that it be by commanded
fractions.
160.--Closing in to replace casualties.
As men fall, the rest close in toward the section leader, the sections
rectifying intervals on the sections furthest advanced (the captain is
with this section, all sections being now in line.)
161.--Closing in on the battalion front.
The several companies rectify intervals in the same way on the furthest
advanced company (the battalion commander being with this company).
162.--Seize every opportunity to advance.
Every propitious occasion to advance should be seized at once by the
various elements of the line: greater effectiveness of the neighboring
section's fire, slackening fire of the enemy, effects of artillery,
etc.
163.--Each fraction protects advance of neighbor.
The movement forward of each fraction of the line should be protected
by the fire of the neighboring fraction.
164.--Keep fit to fire accurately.
The fraction leader, after each rush forward, should give time to the
men to get back their breath so that they may fire with careful aim.
165.--Liaison with the Captain.
The captain should be kept informed by a conventional signal as to the
need of ammunition, etc.
USE OF MACHINE GUNS IN THE ATTACK.
166.--During the Approach.
Use them judiciously but boldly. They should advance as first units.
167.--During the fire attack.
Strive to keep abreast or ahead of the most advanced elements
especially on the flanks.
168.--During the charge.
Try to have them reach the objective with the firing line and
contribute to the pursuit.
THE COMPANY SUPPORTS.
169.--In liaison with the captain.
The sections kept in support are at the disposition of the captain.
170.--Method of advance.
Under the command of the section leader, they advance, in double file,
at proper intervals or deployed, according to their proximity to the
enemy and according to the terrain (covered or uncovered).
171.--Distance from the firing line.
They should be about 250 yards behind the firing line to whose
movements they conform.
172.--Supplying the firing line.
The section leaders keep in sight of the captain and upon his signaled
command advance into the firing line either to fill up a gap or to
reinforce a section.
173.--When filling a gap.
They advance as far as possible ahead of the line.
174.--Reinforcing.
They come up with a rush and shout to rehearten the line.
THE COMPANIES IN SUPPORT.
175.--Position.
They are kept out of range of the enemy's fire upon the firing line but
near enough to interfere as soon as called upon.
176.--Liaison with battalion commander.
The captains keep in touch with the battalion commander.
177.--Advance into action.
These companies advance into the fire zone with the necessary
precautions, either by fractions or entire, taking advantage of
favorable conditions: inefficiency of the enemy's fire, effectiveness
of the firing line, etc.
THE CHARGE.
178.--The final aim.
The charge is the final aim of the whole attack. Its success means the
defeat of the enemy.
179.--Caution.
It should not be launched too soon.
180.--By whom ordered.
The order may come directly from the commander of the attacking line or
be solicited by any of his subordinates.
181.--Method of advance.
Fix bayonets, advance, stop to fire, advance again, but always so as to
arrive on the enemy's position without being out of breath.
THE PURSUIT.
182.--One essential rule.
It should be vigorously pressed.
183.--Organize new position.
In the meanwhile the conquered position should be organized.
SPECIAL FEATURES OF THE ATTACK.
ATTACK OF A WOOD.
184.--First objective.
In the attack of a wood, the first objective should be the outskirts.
Concentrate the first effort on the salients.
185.--Method of Advance.
As soon as the wood is penetrated, advance quickly forward, utilizing
all roads, paths and trails. The company advances by sections or half
sections, in single or double file, preceded by strong patrols.
Every effort should be made to close in with the bayonet.
186.--Outflanking.
The companies or fractions on the flank strive to outflank the enemy so
as to attack him on the flank or from behind.
187.--Frontal Attack.
The companies or fractions in the center try to get across the wood as
quickly as possible, or, at least, to reach a clearing.
ATTACK OF A VILLAGE.
188.--First Objective.
In the attack of a village, the first objective should be the nearest
outskirt.
189.--Organize.
Consolidate this first position as soon as conquered. Signal to the
artillery to lengthen the range.
190.--Frontal attack.
Then try to gain as rapidly as possible the opposite end.
191.--Outflanking.
The flanking units endeavor to encircle the objective.
192.--Against interior defense.
If the defense has been strongly organized inside the village, fight
forward step by step. Blow up the obstacles with explosives.
193.--Cooperation of Artillery.
Have artillery bring up a few guns within close range.
ATTACK OF A DEFILE.
194.--When defended in front.
If it is defended in front, try to advance rapidly by one or both
flanks, small fractions only attacking on the valley bottom, while the
greater part of the attacking force progresses on the heights on either
side, the flanks striving to keep forward so as to reach the other end
before the defenders and encircle them.
195.--When defended in rear.
If the defile is defended at the farther end, as in the case of a
bridge, echelon units (properly covered) for heavy concentrated fire
from the bank held and cross the bridge on the run and in small groups.
NIGHT ATTACKS.
196.--Of limited scope.
They must be confined to simple movements over easy ground.
197.--Orders to be given.
They must be carefully prepared secretly beforehand in every detail.
The orders must include detailed particulars on the role of each unit
or fraction of units, precise data on the rallying points and on the
signals to be used.
198.--Small units used.
For many reasons, chief among which is the difficulty of handling large
units at night and maintaining contact, small units should be used.
199.--A battalion the maximum.
The fire of the adversary being negligible at night, there is seldom
any advantage in putting more than a battalion in line against a given
objective, the quality, discipline and cohesion of the troops making up
for the number.
200.--Special precaution.
Before beginning the approach, carefully secure all arms and utensils
so as to prevent noise. Fix bayonets.
201.--Method of advance.
Walk in double files on sides of roads, never in the center. Otherwise
as long as practicable, in columns of squads.
202.--Liaison.
Commands are to be transmitted in a low voice by connecting files.
203.--To secure surprise.
Keep absolute silence. Forbid all lights. No smoking allowed.
204.--Reconnaissance.
The itinerary should be reconnoitered beforehand, if possible, and
index stakes planted; otherwise an officer should precede with a
luminous compass and men to plant the stakes.
205.--No fire before charge.
Do not answer the enemy's fire until the charge.
206.--Quickness essential.
Success depends above all on the rapidity and continuity of the
advance. Get there as quickly as possible.
THE DEFENSE.
DEFENSE OF POINTS d'APPUIS: WOODS, VILLAGES, DEFILES.
DEFENSE OF WOODS.
207.--Distribution of Troops.
The commander should distribute his command so as to provide a defense
of the outskirts, an interior defense and reserves for a counter attack.
208.--The outskirt defense.
The outskirts defense troops should organize their positions and remain
hidden near the combat emplacements until the attack is announced as
impending by their sentinels.
209.--The interior defense.
The interior defense troops should organize their positions (abatis,
barb-wire) on the edges of clearings and other open spaces so as to
secure convergent fire.
210.--The Reserves.
The counter-attack reserves should be placed in the rear and on the
outside of the flank best suited for launching a counter attack. They
should proceed to organize the ground so as to prevent the enemy from
issuing from the wood, and should strive to keep on.
DEFENSE OF A VILLAGE.
211.--Distribution of Troops.
The same as for the defense of a wood.
212.--The exits.
The outskirts defense organization should include trenches and
accessory defences before all the exits. These should be strongly
barricaded.
213.--Interior strong point.
The interior defense should be organized about the houses most strongly
built and least visible to the enemy's artillery. It should include
hidden communications between these strong points, thus facilitating a
prolonged defense.
214.--Special precautions.
The streets should be barricaded and loopholes provided in the walls of
the houses. Precautions should be taken against fire: pails of water,
boxes of sand provided in the houses.
DEFENSE OF A DEFILE.
215.--To keep the exits open for an advance.
If the aim is to keep the exits open so as to permit the advance of
troops, the defense should be organized at some distance in front of
the defile: far enough to permit the unimpeded progress of the advance.
216.--To keep exits open for a retreat.
If the aim is to keep the exits open so as to cover the retreat of
troops, the roads at the bottom of the defile should be left free and
the defense troops so placed as to draw the enemy's fire on other
points.
217.--To block the defile.
If the aim is to block the defile, the defense should be organized
in the interior of the defile on both sides of the place of greatest
width, so as to secure convergence of fire. Echelon detachments all
along the defile to act as a rear guard in case a retreat is necessary.
Keep the flanks well protected.
NIGHT DEFENSE OF A POSITION
218.--Precautions against attack.
Attack should be guarded against by accumulating obstacles and the
defense further prepared by previous reconnoitering of the best ground
for counter-attacks.
219.--Receive with violent fire and immediate counterattacks.
The enemy's charge should be met with a violent fire at the shortest
possible range, followed immediately by counter-attacks with the
bayonet, especially on the flanks.
THE COUNTER ATTACK.
220.--Confine to definite Objective.
Indicate the objective very definitely including the position to be
reached but not gone beyond.
Its direction should not interfere with the fire of neighboring troops.
221.--Necessary Reconnaissance.
The Counter Attack should be prepared cautiously and the itinerary
carefully, even if rapidly, reconnoitered. (This may have been done as
part of the preparation of the defense. It should be done with special
care if the counter-attack is to take place at night.)
222.--Watch for opportunity.
It may be decided upon independently of the incidents of the defense or
to take advantage of the mistakes or weakness of the adversary.
223.--Counter from short distance.
The most favorable moment is when the enemy is within a short distance
and its artillery consequently obliged to stop or to lengthen its fire.
224.--Sudden and intense fire.
It should be launched suddenly so as to surprise the enemy and pushed
vigorously, the fire being increased to great intensity along the whole
front.
225.--Rapid and continuous advance.
Rapidity and continuity of advance is essential.
226.--Bayonet charge.
Its culmination is the bayonet charge against the prescribed definite
objective.
227.--Stop!
Hold this objective once conquered but do not go beyond.
228.--Dash under Discipline.
Let the motto be always, but here especially: "DASH UNDER DISCIPLINE."
QUESTIONS.
The following questions cover the principles of
combat in open warfare. These principles have been
supplemented rather than changed in the light of
experience since 1914. In their original form, as
given in this book, they still may be considered as
fundamental. Compare them carefully with the treatment
of the same topics in the larger works recommended. The
questions are shaped to cover the topics supplemented.
1.--What is the difference between "trench warfare" and "open warfare"?
2.--What is meant by the "combat"?
3.--What are the two phases of the combat?
4.--What is the distinction between "the approach" and the "attack"?
5.--Why is maneuvering impossible under infantry fire?
6.--What is the purpose of the approach?
7.--How are orders issued?
8.--How is liaison secured?
9.--What were the original functions of combat patrols?
10.--When should close order be abandoned for deployment?
11.--At what distance from the enemy does deployment become imperative?
12.--What is the last formation to escape direct observation?
13.--What precautions may be taken against aeroplane observations?
14.--What is the difference between a registering fire and fire for
effect?
15.--How may the German registering fire be recognized?
16.--What precaution may be taken against it and why is it effective?
17.--What preliminaries are necessary to open fire for effect?
18.--What is an easy way to recognize whether fire for effect may be
expected?
19.--What five cases of fire may be distinguished?
20.--What is the burst area of a shrapnel shell?
21.--What is the safest protective formation against shrapnel?
22.--What is the difference between a shrapnel shell, a time-fuse high
explosive shell and a percussion high explosive shell?
23.--What is the burst area of a time-fuse high explosive shell?
24.--What is the safest protective formation against it?
25.--What is the burst area of percussion high explosive shells, and
what precautions can be taken against them?
26.--What is the safest protective formation against all types of
shells?
27.--What objections may it be open to?
28.--What is the safest way and direction to go when under artillery
fire?
29.--Why should small woods be avoided?
30.--In large woods, what precautions must be taken to secure a steady
advance?
31.--How should the exit from a wood be made?
32.--Describe method of crossing a crest.
33.--What are good protective formations against cavalry and how is it
repulsed?
34.--What elements have the mission to deal with cavalry patrols?
35.--What is meant by "the objective" in attack?
36.--What is the distinction between determining the objective and the
position from which to start the attack?
37.--What is the distinction between "the approach" and getting into
position for the attack?
38.--At what distance from the enemy does deployment as skirmishers
become imperative?
39.--Describe method of advance toward positions for the attack.
40.--Where should the officers be during this advance?
41.--How is liaison (communication) secured between the various
commands?
42.--What is meant by the fire attack?
44.--How is the time to fire determined?
45.--How are fire control and fire effect secured?
46.--How is the firing line advanced?
47.--How is it rectified?
48.--Why should care be taken not to have men out of breath?
49.--How should machine guns be made to contribute to the approach,
the fire attack, the charge?
50.--How far should the company supports be from the firing line?
51.--Who commands them?
52.--How is the firing line reinforced?
53.--Describe the company supports going into the line to fill up a
gap, to reinforce a section.
54.--Describe position and behavior of companies in support.
55.--What is the final stage of the whole attack?
56.--Who orders the charge and how is it made?
57.--What is the difference between the charge and the pursuit?
58.--What should be done with a newly conquered position?
59.--What is the first objective in attacking a wood?
60.--How does the aim of the troops on the wings differ from that of
those in the center?
62.--Distinguish the different objectives in the attack of a village.
63.--Describe the attack to proceed through a defile in which the enemy
is located.
64.--Describe the attack of a bridge.
65.--Why should night attacks be of limited scope?
66.--What special precautions should be taken?
67.--What is the largest unit advisable?
68.--How is surprise secured?
69.--Describe the methods of reconnaissance, advance and liaison for a
night attack.
70.--Should the enemy's fire be answered in a night attack?
71.--What does the success of a night attack chiefly depend on?
72.--How should troops be distributed for the defense of woods and what
is the function of each?
73.--Describe the distribution of troops for the defense of a village.
74.--How should the outskirts defense be organized?
75.--Describe the interior defense.
76.--How can a defile be kept open for an advance?
77.--How can a defile be safeguarded for a retreat?
78.--Give necessary orders for the blocking of a defile.
79.--Why should reconnoitering for counter attacks always be part of
the organization for defense.
80.--Describe repulse of a night attack.
81.--Is an attack ever advisable without previous reconnaissance?
82.--Explain the importance of understanding the exact objective in a
counterattack.
83.--What is the best time to launch a counter attack?
84.--What precautions must be taken to secure the success of a counter
attack?
85.--What is a good motto under all conditions, but especially in the
attack?
Appendix.
A Division Front in
Trench Warfare.
EXPLANATION OF PLATE I.
The following may be considered a standard scheme of distribution of
troops, for trench warfare, in a fully developed trench system.
An infantry division is composed of two brigades, each brigade of two
regiments, each regiment of three battalions. Each brigade thus has six
battalions, each battalion numbering 1026 officers and men, normally
divided into four companies.
One battalion occupies about 1000 yards in ordinary trench warfare. As
reliefs must be frequent, three battalions of each brigade will be on
duty, while the other three are in rest-billets, at least two miles
back of the trenches.
Two of the battalions on duty occupy the trenches, the third is
stationed about a mile back, in reserve.
A brigade can therefore hold about 2000 yards of trenches: two
battalions in front line trenches, one battalion in reserve, and three
battalions in rest billets.
Hence a division (two brigades) will hold a front of about 4000 yards.
Within each 1000 yards front, the distribution may be as follows:
Three platoons of Companies A, B, and C occupy the dugouts of the cover
trench and of the support trench and post sentinels by roster in the
fire trench.
Platoon No. 4 of each company occupy the dugouts of the reserve trench,
together with the entire Company D.
Platoons and companies then relieve one another according to roster,
a platoon of each company and an entire company, in turn, enjoying
comparative rest in the reserve trench even during the stay of the
battalion in the trenches.
EXPLANATION OF PLATE II.
The following is a description of the back areas of a divisional sector
in which there has been no great changes since 1915. There are still
several hundred miles of such sectors.
The line at the top marks the beginning of the trench-system described
in Plate I. being the entrance to the communication trenches.
Road a, b, with the river c, d, run at the bottom of a small valley
surrounded by hills of about 80 ft. elevation. A branch of the river
runs from c. to e. and a railroad beside it, along road h, i, and
crossing road j, k. A good size village is at D, a smaller one at C,
hamlets at A and B. The latter are about one mile back of the trenches,
village C. about two miles and village D. between three and four.
Hamlets A and B have probably been heavily bombarded at the time line
was established and have been evacuated by the civilians. Village
C. has received shells, but, if there has been no big attack in the
sector, is in fair shape and some of the inhabitants remain. Village D.
may also have suffered from shells but probably most of the inhabitants
remain. Such villages may be clusters of farms or of cottages,
depending upon the region. If village is made up of cottages, farm
houses will be found along the roads at frequent intervals. The fields
are likely to be under cultivation almost as far as road k, l.
Villages A, B, C are used to billet the battalion in reserve of each
brigade. Village D. and the nearest villages further back are used as
rest-billets by the battalions of the brigades who will relieve those
in the trenches.
Near or in villages A, B and C or near hill E and G are located the
transports of the infantry battalions in the trenches. Supplies are
sent daily to the trenches from this headquarters of the quartermaster
and transport officer.
Somewhere along road k, l, or about hills E and G are hidden in gun
pits the batteries of field artillery attached to the division. The men
live in dugouts alongside. The camps for the horses, wagons and supply
headquarters of these batteries are hidden in the woods or on the
further slopes of hills E, F, G.
In village D are very likely located the Brigades' headquarters
and such services as the Field Ambulance and the Divisional Supply
Departments. The Y. M. C. A. recreation centers, divisional theatre,
football fields, army canteens etc., are also located in village D
or just back of it. If the houses in the villages do not provide
enough billets, huts and tents are erected. Otherwise the officers are
billeted in the houses of the inhabitants and the men in the barns.
The Divisional Headquarters, the Ammunition Column, the Artillery
Brigade Headquarters, the Engineers, the Ammunition Dumps, etc., are
strung out in the villages and along the roads just back of village D.
The heavier artillery is also posted back of this line.
In sectors that have been the scenes of offensives the several elements
remain in the same relation, but as the villages have been obliterated,
shelters must be provided. [The Editor.]
[Illustration: PLATE I--DIVISION FRONT--4000 yards (Trench System)]
[Illustration: PLATE II--DIVISION FRONT (Back Areas)]
* * * * *
Transcriber's note:
Varied hyphenation was retained, for example as fire trench and
fire-trench, and counter attack, counterattack and counter-attack.
Obvious punctuation errors were corrected.
Page 3, Table of Contents, "74" changed to "73" to reflect the heading
of "THE CHARGE."
Page 3, Table of Contents, "78" changed to "77" to reflect the heading
of "NIGHT ATTACKS."
Page 3, Table of Contents, "74" changed to "83" to reflect the heading
of "THE COUNTER ATTACK."
Page 7, "resourcefulnes" changed to "resourcefulness" (and
resourcefulness)
Page 12, final item under "3.--On the day of the relief" was formatted
to match the rest of the items. In the original it was typeset as a
paragraph instead of as an item with a hanging indent.
Page 26, "offlcers" changed to "officers" (many reserve officers)
Page 56, "preceed" changed to "precede" (always precede a unit)
Page 63, a footnote marker was added to the text (110 yards
intervals[G] between)
Page 66, "controling" changed to "controlling" (the section leaders
controlling)
Page 68, "controling" changed to "controlling" (commander controlling
the)
Page 78, "or" changed to "of" (files on sides of)
Page 87, "shapnel" changed to "shrapnel" (shrapnel shell, a time-fuse)
Page 89, there is no question 43 on the list. This was retained as
printed.
***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HANDY WAR GUIDE FOR MY COMPANY***
******* This file should be named 44370.txt or 44370.zip *******
This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:
http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/4/4/3/7/44370
Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions
will be renamed.
Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no
one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation
(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without
permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules,
set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to
copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to
protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project
Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you
charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you
do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the
rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose
such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and
research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do
practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is
subject to the trademark license, especially commercial
redistribution.
*** START: FULL LICENSE ***
THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE
PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK
To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free
distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work
(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project
Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project
Gutenberg-tm License available with this file or online at
www.gutenberg.org/license.
Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm
electronic works
1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm
electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to
and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property
(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all
the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy
all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession.
If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project
Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the
terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or
entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8.
1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be
used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who
agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few
things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works
even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See
paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project
Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement
and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
works. See paragraph 1.E below.
1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation"
or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project
Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the
collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an
individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are
located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from
copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative
works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg
are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project
Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by
freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of
this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with
the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by
keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project
Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others.
1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern
what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in
a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check
the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement
before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or
creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project
Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning
the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United
States.
1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg:
1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate
access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently
whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the
phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project
Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed,
copied or distributed:
This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or
re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived
from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is
posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied
and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees
or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work
with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the
work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1
through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the
Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or
1.E.9.
1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted
with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution
must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional
terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked
to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the
permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work.
1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm
License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this
work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm.
1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this
electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without
prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with
active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project
Gutenberg-tm License.
1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary,
compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any
word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or
distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than
"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version
posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org),
you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a
copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon
request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other
form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm
License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1.
1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying,
performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works
unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.
1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing
access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided
that
- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from
the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method
you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is
owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he
has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the
Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments
must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you
prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax
returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and
sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the
address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to
the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation."
- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies
you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he
does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm
License. You must require such a user to return or
destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium
and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of
Project Gutenberg-tm works.
- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any
money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the
electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days
of receipt of the work.
- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free
distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works.
1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm
electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set
forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from
both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael
Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the
Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below.
1.F.
1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable
effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread
public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm
collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain
"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or
corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual
property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a
computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by
your equipment.
1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right
of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project
Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project
Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project
Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all
liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal
fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT
LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE
PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE
TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE
LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR
INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH
DAMAGE.
1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a
defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can
receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a
written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you
received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with
your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with
the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a
refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity
providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to
receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy
is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further
opportunities to fix the problem.
1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth
in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO OTHER
WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO
WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE.
1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied
warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages.
If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the
law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be
interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by
the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any
provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions.
1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the
trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone
providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance
with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production,
promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works,
harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees,
that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do
or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm
work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any
Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause.
Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm
Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of
electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers
including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists
because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from
people in all walks of life.
Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the
assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's
goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will
remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project
Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure
and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations.
To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation
and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4
and the Foundation information page at www.gutenberg.org
Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive
Foundation
The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit
501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the
state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal
Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification
number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg
Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent
permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws.
The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S.
Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered
throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at 809
North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email
contact links and up to date contact information can be found at the
Foundation's web site and official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact
For additional contact information:
Dr. Gregory B. Newby
Chief Executive and Director
gbnewby@pglaf.org
Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg
Literary Archive Foundation
Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide
spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of
increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be
freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest
array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations
($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt
status with the IRS.
The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating
charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United
States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a
considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up
with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations
where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To
SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any
particular state visit www.gutenberg.org/donate
While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we
have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition
against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who
approach us with offers to donate.
International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make
any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from
outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff.
Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation
methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other
ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations.
To donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate
Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
works.
Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm
concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared
with anyone. For forty years, he produced and distributed Project
Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support.
Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed
editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S.
unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily
keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition.
Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility:
www.gutenberg.org
This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm,
including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary
Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to
subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks.
|